Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1887-08-16
EARLY IRISH HISTORY.

j EARLY IRISH HISTORY.
A BRIEF synopsis Of historical Events Dur
ing the Nations Earliest Days.
The beginnings Of Irish history are
wrapped In the mists of tradition. II
10 known that the people were OF Celtic
origin. that their society was based on
tho tribal system, that their religion
was that Of the DruidA And from Z
few fragments Of record that have como
down to MS we know something Of the
customs OF this ancient people. There
are many legends told by bardic his
torians OF later times concerning tho
early Kings Of Ireland. but the part
taken in these by giants and necro-
mancers detracts seriously from their
vsrisimilitude, and we must admit that
authentic Irish history begins with the
nth century, and with the introduction
Of Christianity into tho country by 81.
Patrick. The work done By this cody
Bishop was Of tho greatest value to the
country, for he established churches,
monasteries and schools His plan was
nrst - convert the chief Of tho tribe,
after which the trfbsl instincts Of the
people made thousands Of sonvsrts
among them to the religion Of this land.
81 Patrick passed from place to place,
seixing every opportunity Of = loca.
gathering Of tho people to preach to
them, and, securing his converts, W
baptizs them Immediately. He then
superintendent tho erection Of rude
places Of worship that the adhcrents Of
the new faith might have places 70
gather and strengthen one another BY
counsel. In time he educated priests
from among the people and established
them where he could In groups. thus
laying the foundation Of series Of
monasteries, or monastic schools, which,
when st. Patrick died, after sixty years
ministry, formed aperfeot network over
the land. After Christianity had be-
como well established in the country,
w arc assured that these schools Of
learning became even moro famous
than those on the continent, and that
foreign occlesiastics visited them In
large numbers for the sake Of their
teaching and libraries, and t. witness
the psaoe and prosperity Of the church
In Ireland. These schools also sent out
some Of tho most famous Bishops and
scholars Of the middle ages, and their
missionaries went TO all parts Of the
continent But meanwhile, and for
centuries later, schools for the common
people were unknown. All the learn
Ing Of tho time was confined to the
priests and schools Of the church. The
civil history Of ireland during this
period, while the church was growing
In wealth and influence. was made up
Of quarrels. The tribal system died
out, and gave place to the absolute
sovereignty OF the chiefs, and the heads
Of the larger tribes preyed without
scruple upon tho substance Of the smaller
tribes. About the end Of tho eighth
century the pirate Danes came down
on the country like tho wolf on the
fold" They burned and plundered
and massacred and swept over the en-
tire country like . whirlwind, forcing
all the chiefs Of clans to pay them heavy
tributes or to submit to be sold into
slavery. or to be put to death with
hideous tortues. They particularly ex-
pended their fury on the churches, burn
ing and plunderiug the monasteries,
and driving the monks and scholars into
the mountains. The nced to meet q
common enemy forced the clans to
unite. and the pirates were attacked
and driven from the interior OF the
country. though they still held posts
and colonies at the mouths of the prin-
cipal rivers. At last, in the tenth Gen.
tury, under the leadership Of King
Brian, the Danes were driven from the
land. Brian now united the whole
country under one government in spite
OF much opposition from the other
chiefs. But he was an old man when
this was accomplished. and soon after,
when rebellion broke cut, he was
killed. For the next hundred years
there Is little to record but constant
struggle. with varying success, Of am
bilious princes for the sovereignty,
while the church, which had regained
large part Of her ancient wealth and
influence, strove In vain for the rcstora-
ton OF peace and order. In 1l68 the
Anglo-Norman settlement began, which
led to the final subjugation of the
country to English rule. = Caicago Inter